Are Vegetarian Diets Good For Pets?

What are the health implications of a vegetarian diet for pets – just how nutritionally balanced and safe is it?

- Melissa Especkerman

Step into any pet store, head for the food aisle and you’ll be greeted with a ton of information about all the pet food they have to offer, and if you’re a first-time pet owner, the choices on hand can get pretty overwhelming.

On top of that, you may have heard that more and more pet owners are turning to vegetarian food for their pets. Wondering if this will work for your pet? Before you jump on the vegetarian bandwagon with your pet in tow, some of the questions you should be asking yourself are: Are vegetarian diets for my pets healthy? Can they get the nutrition they need? Is it even safe? The answer is both yes and no.

Nutritional Requirements

If you’re thinking of doing your part for the environment and changing the diet of your canine and feline friends to a vegetarian one, whatever the reason, you might first want to consider your pet’s biological requirement.

Depending on their breed, both cats and dogs have very specific nutritional needs. This also differs based on their level of activity, age, size and sex. And no, cats and dogs do not have the same nutritional needs, which means they cannot be fed the same food.

For Canines